Lock and signal for turn-bridges



(No Model.)

F. W. OOOLBAUGH.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 LOCK AND SIGNAL FOR TURN BRIDGES.

Tlly .L'

h'Patented Jan. 3,18 82;.

2 MW e h S S w w m H G U A B L 0 0 C W R a d 0 M o LOGK AND SIGNAL FOR TURN BRIDGES.

No. 251 836. Patented Jan. 3,1882.

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awv If N. PETERS. PhnlwLilhngriphur. Washington. ac,

To all whom it may concern I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

FRANK W. GOOLBAUGH, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

LOCK AND SlGNAL F OR TURN-BRIDGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,836, dated January 3, 1882.

Applieationfiled July 21, 1880. Renewed May 14, 1881. (No model.)

Be it known that I, FRANK W. COOLBAUGH a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and use- .ful Improvements in Locks and Signals for Turn-Bridges; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description or the same, which will enable others skilled in theart to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a lock and signals for turn-bridges, the object being to automatically and firmly lock the bridge and to work the lock and signals in unison, so as to give notice tothe engineer of an approaching train.

as to whether the bridge is locked or unlocked or is open or closed.

The improvement embraces various kinds of signals, the distinguishing features of which will be hereinafter set forth; and it consists chiefly in automatically bringing the signals into position for signalin g when the turn-bridge is open, and in raising the signal from position for signaling after the turn-bridge has been closed and the necessity for signals no longer exists, as hereinafterdescribed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bridge, illustrating a portion of my improved apparatus applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view. Fig. 3 illustrates two of the signals. Fig. 4 shows in asectional and plan View the torpedo-signal presently described.

- 'Fig. 5 shows a portion of the box which receives the bolt, as hereinafter set forth. 7

The bridge to which my invention is applied.

belongs to the class known as turn or swinging bridges. In these bridges an independent section is arranged to turn upon a vertical pivot which is properly mounted upon a pier, the object being to turn this section at right angles to the two adjacent sections of bridge in order to allow vessels to pass. The

bridge may be constructed in any suitablepr well-known way and be worked by the means usuallyemployed for turning bridges. The accompanying drawings illustrates three. pieces, upon the central one of whichthe turn bridge or section A is arranged, and upon the other two of which are secured the endsof the two adjacent stationary sections B of the bridge. When the turn-bridge is closed-that is to say, in line with the sections B-it is locked by meansof the bolts 0 O, which are arranged to slide within bolt-casings 0, arranged upon the upper side of the turn-bridge, at the ends thereof, said bolts being forced into the boxes D upon the stationary sections by means of powerful springs E, which are arranged within casings upon the turn-bridge and applied to the bolts so as to turn them into the boxes D. In order to withdraw the bolts from these boxes so as to admit of the bridge being turned, I pivot a hand-lever, F, over the center of the turn-bridge and connect with this lever, at

points above and below the fulcrum, the rods I hold the bolts in this position against the expansive power of the springs, a rack-bar, H, or other equivalent device for holding the handlever, is employed. In turning the bridge so as to close the draw the operator releases the hand-lever, so as to allow the bolts to be thrown out before the turn-bridge is brought round in line with the stationary section of the bridge. To guide these bolts into the openings formed in the boxes D which receive them, the said boxes have their fronts formed with bevels D at two sides of their openings D these beveled or retreating portions of the boxes constituting guides, against which the bolts will strike before reaching the openings in the boxes. In their passage to the said openings the bolts are also guided, in a measure, by the upper and lower projecting corner portions, D of the boxes, these latter-named guides serving to hold the turn-bridge against any vertical movement just before it is brought into line with the stationary bridge-sections, and hence insure accuracy in looking the parts together.

By arranging the bolt-casings C upon the top portion or outer sides of the turn-bridge I am enabled to couple thesliding lock-bolts O directly to the ends of the rods G, which latter are in turn directly connected withthe operating-levrr F respectively above and below its pivotal support. In this manner I simplify the construction and operation of these parts, and I avoid the necessity of using a system of connecting rods extending through the turnbridge to operate the bolts, which is essential where the bolt-casings are arranged on the under side of the turn-bridge.

I will now proceed to describe the devices which I employ as signals for notifying theengineer of an approaching train as to whether the turn-bridge is open or closed, and also designate the manner in which they are automatically operated by the bolts just described. As the signal-operating mechanism actuated by. each bolt issubstantially the same, a description of one will apply to both.

A lever, I, is pivoted so that its lower end extends down into the bolt-passage of the box D, and a rod, K, is connected with this. leiver above its fulcrum. At a proper distancefr'om the lever the rod K terminates and connects with a wire, L, which passes through a tube,

M, leading any required distance upon or un-,

der the ground to a frame, N, to the top of which thetube is then conducted and bent over,

so as to admit of the wire being carried down.

a proper, distance below the upper central portion of the same. Any desirably-inclosed ball, 0, or like signal is suspended by this wire be-.

low the top cross-beam of the frame, and, toy

said cross-beam is secured a casing, 0, capable of receiving and concealing the ball 0 after. it has been drawn up. This frame need not necessarily be of the rectangular shape hereinshown, since a single standard with a top arm or bracket. would subserve the same purpose. Also, the pipe need not extend to the top of this. frame or standard; but it may. terminate at the base thereof, and the wires be. then conducted up the standard over pulleys. As a means for providing a side signal-light, a pipe, P, branches out from the pipe M, and is carried along under the track. and thence to a suit-I ble frame or standard having a casing, Q, in

which is arranged a red-glass slide, q,.said glass being set in aweighted frame whichslides in the casing Q. A lamp is also placed in the casing Q, so that when the red glass is upan ordinary flame will be displayed. and whenv the'glass is down a red light will be seen. A.

wire, R, leads through the pipe P from the main line L to this weighted t'ramecontaiuing the red glass,so that when the mainwire is operated both signals will have a simultaneous.

movement, as presently explained. In addition to these two signals I also propose employing a third signal, which will inevitably.

direct the attention of a sleepy engineerto the condition of the bridge should theturn p01:v tion thereofbe open. This signal consists in a torpedo arranged to be automatically placed upon the track when the draw is open and withdrawn from the track when the draw is closed. The torpedo is held by a small malleable hand, a, which is connected with one end i andconcealed within the casing O.

of ajointed bar, b. One section of this bar is provided with a caster-wheel, 0, adjacent to the hand which holds the torpedo, and the remain- 'containingtheentirejointed bar henthe same is turned upon its center hinge,f, so as to assume the angular form herein shown. A wire, g, passes through the pipe and connects with will insure action upon the jointed bar.

. The simultaneous operation of the several signaling devices is'effectcd as follows: When the turn-bridge is closed and locked the action of the bolt-against the lower end of the lever I causes it-toassn me the inclined position shown in the. drawings, and thereby draw .upon the main wire L, whereby the ball 0 will be 'raised The redglass slide Q will'likewise be raised, and the bar b will be raised at its central jointed portion, thus retracting it within its casing and removing the torpedo. from the track. If, however, the bolt is withdrawn from the box by'operating the hand-lever upon the turn-bridge, the ball and glass slide will descend by gravity, and hence cause a vibration of the lever, thereby slackening up the wires and allowing the ball and the glass slide to descend, and admitting.

. of they jointed bar I) being straightened out by the retractile power of its spring 0. As the bar I) straightens out the torpedo will be carried directly over the track, in position to be struck by the wheel of an approaching engine.v The two spiral springs lb herein illustrated connect. the rods with the levers, and are so arranged as to prevent any sudden jerk of the ball when it comes to a stop. In some instances I may draw the bolt by means of hydraulic pressure when it is .found difficult for one man to do the work by leverage.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

this hinged bar, and also with the main wire L, so that amovement of the said main wire 1. In a railway turn-bridge, the bolt-casings O, secured upon the top portion or outer side of the bridge, and provided with inclosed springimpelled bolts 0, in combination with thelever F, pivoted above the bridge, and the rods G, having one of their ends directly connected with the bolts and their other ends connected directly to the lever above and below. its pivotal support, substantially as and for the purpose described. 7

2. The turn-bridge provided with a centrallyarranged rack-bar, in combination with a pivotedv hand-lever arranged to be held in posi tion by the rack-bar, sliding spring-impelled bolts located at the ends of theturn-bridge and directlyconnected-With the hand-lever by rods G, boxes ,D upon the stationary sectionsof the bridge for receiving the bolts when shot, pivoted levers I, having their lower ends extended into the bolt-passages in said boxes, rods and wires connecting said levers with devices for signalling, and springs arranged to relieve the sudden jerkupon the signals when they are brought to a stop, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of the turn-bridge and its sliding spring impelled bolts with thelever F, connected by rods G with the said bolts, the levers I, pivoted in boxes upon the stationary sections of the bridge, with their ends extendin ,9; into the bolt passages in said boxes, rod K, the main wire L, leadin g to the suspended ball 0, and the branch wire leading to a side signal, these said signals being automatically brought by gravity into position for signaling when the bridge is open, and being free to he raised out of position for signaling by theaction of the bolts upon said levers and'the consequent tension upon the several wires after thedturn-bridgeis closed, substantially as specifie 4. The lever I, rod K, and wire L, in combination with the wire g, leading to the jointed bar b, a torpeddholder secured to one section of said jointed bar, and a spring, e, secured to the remaining section thereof, the whole being arranged to place a torpedo over the railroadtrack when the wire 9 is slackened, and to remove the torpedo therefrom when said wire is tightened and a tension exerted upon the jointed bar, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, with the bolts connected with and operated by a pivoted lever, F, upon the'turnbridge, of the levers I, pivoted in boxes D, arranged upon the stationary sections of the bridge, and connections between said levers and the signals, the said boxes D being formed with the beveled or tapering front ends, D, recess D, and projecting corners D for guiding the bolts to the recesses, all constructed and arranged substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK W. OOOLBAUGH. Witnesses:

I. O. OoNKnY, "O. L. FOWLER. 

